152. Editorial Note
The decision to return the Crown of St. Stephen to Hungary leaked quickly within the administration of President Jimmy Carter. On November 1, 1977, Robert R. King of the National Security Council Staff reported to Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Zbigniew Brzezinski that employees of the United States Information Agency already knew of the decision, and that the decision was perhaps even more widely known throughout the United States Government. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Europe, USSR, and East/West, Hunter Subject File, Box 14, Hungary: Crown of St. Stephen: 11/77) Concerned that the information would soon leak to the [Page 463] press and prompt a negative reaction in Congress, King recommended making a preemptive announcement of the decision to return the Crown. (Ibid.) Administration officials informed congressional leaders and concerned members of Congress of the decision to return the Crown on November 3. (National Archives, RG 59, Office of the Secretariat Staff, Mr. Matthew Nimetz, Counselor of the Department of State, Under Secretary of State for Security Assistance, Science and Technology, January 1977 thru December 1980, Lot 81D85, Box 2, Evening Reading)
Following notification by administration officials, Representative Mary Rose Oakar (Democrat-Ohio) wrote to President Carter to express her “deep sorrow and disappointment” at the decision to return the Crown and urged him to re-consider. Oakar cited the “tremendous religious and national significance that the Crown has for the people of Hungary,” and claimed that many members of the Hungarian-American community were vehemently opposed to the Crown’s return. She further argued that returning it to the Communist regime contradicted the administration’s stated aim of promoting human rights. Raising questions about the administration’s handling of the matter, Representative Oakar urged Carter to reconsider his decision. (Carter Library, White House Central Files, Countries, Box CO–30, CO 67, 1/20/77–1/20/81) Frank Moore, Assistant to the President for Congressional Liaison, responded to Oakar on behalf of the President on November 7, indicating that the President would take her comments into consideration. (Ibid.)
The House Subcommittee on Europe and the Middle East, chaired by Representative Lee Hamilton (Democrat-Indiana) held a special hearing on the Crown of St. Stephen and United States-Hungarian relations on November 9. International Relations Committee Chairman Clement J. Zablocki (Democrat-Wisconsin), also participated in the hearing. Representatives Oakar and Frank Horton (Republican-New York) and representatives from several Hungarian-American organizations testified against the President’s decision. Representative Oakar called on Congress to conduct an investigation and urged adoption of H.R. 7983, a bill that would prohibit the return of the Crown without explicit congressional approval. Counselor of the Department of State Matthew Nimetz testified on behalf of the administration. During the hearing, former Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Nagy and General Béla Kiraly—the commander of the Hungarian National Guard during the 1956 Revolution—supported the President’s decision. Since “emotions ran high” neither Hamilton nor Zablocki wanted to pursue the matter, Nimetz wrote Secretary of State Vance in a November 9 Evening Report after the hearing. Nimitz also reported that he had assured Zablocki he would be consulted about the details of the return. [Page 464] (National Archives, RG 59, Office of the Secretariat Staff, Mr. Matthew Nimetz, Counselor of the Department of State, Under Secretary of State for Security Assistance, Science and Technology, January 1977 thru December 1980, Lot 81D85, Box 2, Evening Reading)
Vice President Walter Mondale met with Representative Oakar and a group of Hungarian-Americans on November 9 in the Roosevelt Room at the White House. President Carter also “dropped in.” (Carter Library, Presidential Materials, President’s Daily Diary) No record of the conversation was found, but in the prepared talking points for the meeting, Brzezinski suggested that Carter stress the decision “was made on the basis of the marked improvement in Hungarian American relations” and “Hungary has a good record of implementing the provisions of the Helsinki Final Act.” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Country Chron File, Box 17, Hungary, 1979–1980) Oakar wrote the President on November 10 that she would “continue to work with the Hungarian people and draw up a list of conditions you requested,” conditions under which Oakar and Hungarian-American organizations would support the return of the Crown. (Carter Library, White House Central Files, Countries, Box CO–30, CO 67 1/20/77–1/20/81) On November 29, Oakar wrote the President again, stating that return of the Crown should only take place after withdrawal of Soviet troops stationed in Hungary and the holding of free elections. Oakar emphasized that Hungarian-American organizations would “oppose vigorously” any return that is based on lesser conditions. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Europe, USSR, and East/West, Hunter Subject File, Box 14, Hungary: Crown of St. Stephen: 12/77)